Surviving First Contact 3 (2/2)
“Well, actually—” Zuula began.
“Would have left them alone regardless,” Threadbare said, with long experience in dealing with Zuula.
The little shaman shrugged, and returned to shore.
The queen considered that, running her eyes over the remnants of her tribe, and croaked.
“She says this may be so, but her people are dead, and she does not see why she should spare you.”
“Spare us?” Threadbare said, moving up to where ten gribbits lay dead in a heap. “Mercy no. We're sparing them.” He beckoned, and Pulsivar oozed out of the shadows, purring, and rubbing a bloody cheek against the bear's paw. “Please let her know that if she wishes to continue the fight we will, but we came here to fight goblins, not her people.”
That seemed to make her happy. “She's bitchin' a lot about goblins, and telling me the awesome tale of how they won their home,” Glub said.
“Ah, okay. Listen to her. Please tell me when she's expecting me to be appreciative.” For his part, Threadbare smiled and nodded whenever Glub gave the signal. It really wasn't too different from his early days, listening to Cecelia's stories and woes back during the tea parties, before he understood what she was saying.
And it worked.
CHA +1
“All right,” Glub said, much later, after some negotiations. “Boss, you're gonna repair and forge their armor and weapons, since they don't have a proper smith, and montage the smith job to one of their own. In return they'll forgive us our trespass and the deaths, and let us leave in peace.”
“And we get nothing but departing safely, but that's all right,” Garon said. “We came in here to grind levels, and sweet Ritaxis, did we ever.”
“There's still a few more we could get,” Kayin said, glancing back to the barrel Cecelia was sitting on, now. “I mean, it'd be kind of a jerk move, but... we are up against the Crown, and if we don't pull off that very sneaky mission, we're gonna die in Fort Bronze. A little more experience could give us an edge.”
“Mm.” Threadbare said. “You're thinking of using Zuula's poison stocks?”
“If we dump it in the lake, then they all die. And their kids. And the pond and the land around it are poison for years,” Cecelia said.
“And what do you think of that?” Threadbare asked.
“I think my father would do it without hesitation, to make us all stronger. So fump that noise.” Cecelia's mouth set into a line of determination. “If you can't get strong without being evil, you don't deserve to be strong.”
“Works for me,” Garon said. “I was going to try to threaten them with it if we got in a bad spot, but I really didn't want to use it. It really was a last-ditch maneuver.”
“Let's agree to not do that or things like that, then.” Cecelia said. “No matter how bad it gets, genocide isn't an option, okay? I made that mistake last life, I want to start fresh with this one.”
“I think we're all good with that,” Threadbare said. And the rest of them nodded, one by one. Kayin and Madeline were a heartbeat behind the others, but no one called them out on it.
“All right,” the dapper teddy bear decided. “Tell her I agree to her terms. Everyone else, feel free to hang about if you want, or go get the camp in order. After I'm done we'll pack up and leave peacefully.”
“I almost feel guilty,” Garon said. “We got these levels, and you're going to have to lose a day montaging.”
“I got a level of golemist while you were fighting,” Threadbare said. “And model because evidently they like my hat.” He hadn't missed the fact that the tribe had spent most of the negotiations staring at his headware. Given that the sole concession that gribbits made in the way of clothing was hats, it wasn't too hard to figure out the object of their gazes. “And besides, the stronger you all get, the better off I am. It's good to be king, after all.”
“I agree,” croaked the queen, in heavily-accented common tongue, and the golems stared at her, mouths wide open.
“You understood every word we said, didn't you? All this whole time?” Garon slapped his wide wooden palm to his muzzle.
“Yes. It seemed best to hide that until I was certain of you. Now I am. I am glad you decided to avoid treachery. You are good people after all, and I am sorry that we misunderstood your intentions. Now what is this about fighting the Crown, and sneaking into Fort Bronze?”
THREADBARE'S CHARACTER SHEET
Spoiler: Spoiler
Name: Threadbare
Age: 5
Jobs:
Greater Toy Golem Level 15
Cave Bear Level 12
Ruler Level 11
Scout Level 7
Tailor Level 11
Model Level 9
Necromancer Level 11
Duelist Level 6
Animator Level 12
Enchanter Level 10
Golemist Level 13
Smith Level 11
Sculptor Level 12
Attributes:
Strength: 125 Constitution: 139 Hit Points: 332(422) Armor: 52(59)
Intelligence: 221 Wisdom: 201(208) Sanity: 422(565) Mental Fortitude: 42
Dexterity: 147(154) Agility: 115(122) Stamina: 272(376) Endurance: 62
Charisma: 114(142) Willpower: 204 Moxie: 318(436) Cool: 20(48)
Perception: 122 Luck: 89(96) Fortune: 211(308) Fate: 15(22)
Generic Skills
Brawling - Level 35 (+8)
Climb - Level 13
Clubs and Maces - Level 9
Dagger - Level 9
Dodge - Level 8
Fishing - Level 1
Magic Item 1 - Resist Fire 13
Ride - Level 8
Stealth - Level 13
Swim - Level 5
Greater Toy Golem Skills
Adorable - Level 31
Bodyguard - Level 7
Gift of Sapience - Level NA
Golem Body - Level 26
Innocent Embrace - Level 14
Magic Resistance -Level 7
Cave Bear Skills
Animalistic Interface - NA
Claw Swipes - 24
Darkspawn - NA
Forage - 13
Growl - 2
Hibernate - 37
Scents and Sensibility - 20
Stubborn - 8
Toughness - 19
Ruler Skills
Appoint Official - Level NA
Emboldening Speech - Level 16
Identify Subject - Level 10
It's Good to be King - NA
King's Quest - Level 6
Noblesse Oblige - Level 26
Organize Minions - Level NA
Royal Audience - Level 17
Simple Decree - Level 9
Swear Fealty - Level NA
Scout Skills
Alertness - Level 2
Best Route - Level 2
Camouflage - Level 2
Firestarter - Level 4
Keen Eye - Level 5
Sturdy Back - Level 6
Wind's Whisper - Level 5
Tailor Skills
Adjust Outfit - Level 4
Clean and Press - Level 13
Recycle Cloth - Level 1
Tailoring - Level 51(65)
Model Skills
Call Outfit - Level 1
Dietary Restriction - Level 45 (+90 to all pools)
Fascination - Level 4
Flex - Level 16
Makeup - Level 1
Self-Esteem - Level 16
Strong Pose - Level 5
Work it Baby - Level 45 (+45% to raw item bonuses)
Necromancer Skills
Assess Corpse - Level 12
Command the Dead - Level 28
Deathsight - Level 8
Drain Life - Level 1
Invite Undead - Level 12
Mana Focus - Level NA (+11% to sanity)
Skeletons - Level 19
Soulstone - Level 45
Speak With Dead - Level 20
Zombies - Level 3
Duelist Skills
Challenge - Level 4
Dazzling Entrance - Level 8
Fancy Flourish - Level 7 (14)
Guard Stance - Level 8
Parry - Level 6
Swashbuckler's Spirit - NA (+14 to cool)
Swinger - Level 2
Weapon Specialist - Level 17 (Brawling +8)
Animator Skills
Animus - Level 35
Animus Blade - Level 10
Animus Shield - Level 4
Arm Creation - Level 7
Command Animus - Level 19
Creator's Guardians - Level 26
Dollseye - Level 18
Eye for Detail - Level 20
Magic Mouth - Level 18
Mend - Level 40
Enchanter Skills
Appraise - Level 30
Boost+5 - Level 9
Boost +10 - Level 2
Disenchant - Level 5
Elemental Protection - Level 8
Glowgleam - Level 26
Harden - Level 28
Soften - Level 30
Spellstore I - Level 9
Spellstore V - Level 4
Spellstore X - Level 1
Wards - Level 2
Golemist Skills
Clay Golem - Level 2
Command Golem - Level 10
Golem Animus - Level 47
Golem Guardians - NA
Invite Golem - Level 11
Mend Golem - Level 15
Program Golem - Level 40
Toy Golem - Level 56
Wood Golem - Level 12
Smith Skills
Adjust Arms and Armor - Level 7
Refine Ore - Level 13
Smelt Down - Level 6
Smithing - Level 50
Sculptor Skills
Detect Clay - Level 8
Mend Ceramic - Level 5
Refine Clay - Level 16
Sculpting - Level 58
Equipment
Journeyman Tailor's Apron of fire resistance (+6 Armor, +10 Tailoring, Resist Fire 9)(+2 Armor, +4 Tailoring, +4 Resist Fire from WIB)
Okay Quality Bling
Ringtail Master's Coat (+5 CHA, +5 LUCK, +5 Armor, +5 Fate)(+2 CHA, LUCK, Armor, Fate from WIB)
Rod of Baronly Might (+5 CHA, +5 WIS, +10 Cool)(+2 CHA, WIS, +4 Cool from WIB)
Yellow Belt of Bravado (+5 AGL, +5 DEX, +5 to the Fancy Flourish skill)(+2 AGL, DEX, Fancy Flourish from WIB)
Toy Top Hat (CHA +10)(+4 CHA from WIB)
Inventory
A Folded-steel Dagger (Dagger Level 10)
Tailor's Tools
A small jewelry box with a few reagents and crystals, most minor.
1 bead of Mend Golem (Level 15)
Minorphone (Enhances voice and social skills focused through it twice per day)
Quests
Unlocked Jobs
Berserker, Cleric, Cook, Cultist, Grifter, Spirit Medium, Tamer, Wizard